Collagen-stimulating threads may be the newest way to get a booty boost, but are they better than tried-and-true butt enhancement treatments? The experts weigh in.
For celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, the Kardashian sisters, and Beyonce, the idea that bigger is better is true when it comes to the buttocks. From bootylicious backends to perfectly plump and lifted derrieres, the advancements in butt augmentation and contouring continue to grow as patients demand options. “There are a lot of celebrities these days who flaunt full buttocks and fans, naturally, want to get the look,” says Norman Rowe, MD, a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New York City. “While celebrity surgery inspiration isn’t new, the rate at which social media plays into the popularity of full buttocks is driving demand for buttock-enhancing procedures through the roof.”
One such method that has taken social media by storm? The butt thread lift. This newer, non-surgical treatment option purports to provide more lift and contour, but these dissolvable threads are not necessarily an equal substitute for other long-standing butt augmentation procedures, like butt implants, filler, and the oh-so-popular Brazilian butt lift (BBL), which uses fat to augment the size and shape of the behind.
With many plastic surgeons calling the safety and efficacy of the butt thread lift into question, we decided it was time to investigate the controversial procedure. Here’s what you need to know.
All About Threads
Let’s take a step back for a moment. In general, thread lifts have come and gone, and they are currently back again. In the early 2000s, permanent threads were problematic and posed significant issues, including visible bunching under the skin, perforations, and breakage. These older threads were made of barbed sutures and used firm, unforgiving materials that should have never gone into the face. Case in point: They were said to be so fragile that a simple sneeze could dislodge one.
The threads used today have come a long way. “There is a constant evolution of threads ranging from permanent to absorbable, smooth to barbed, sharp needle insertion to a cannula,” says David Shafer, MD, a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in NYC. Today, both NovaThreads and Silhouette InstaLift, two of the most popular manufacturers of threads for lifts, are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and far more reliable than past options. These threads (and others) use dissolvable polydioxanone (PDO) and poly-L-lactic acid (the same material used in Sculptra®). “Certainly, the current absorbable barbed threads with cannula insertion are a great leap forward over older generations of threads,” he notes.
Threads are essentially impermanent sutures that give an understated yet visible lift to the skin, but they also have a longer-term effect. Over time, they work “by creating collagen within the skin,” says Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a board certified cosmetic dermatologist in NYC, which helps to offset the natural decline in collagen production we all experience with age. Most doctors use threads to lift the cheeks and eyebrows and to define the jawline and other facial areas. More recently, threads are being experimented on lifting the breasts, knees, arms, and buttocks. Butt thread lifts make use of threads to create a rounder, shapelier, and more lifted backside.
There is, however, plenty of misinformation about just how much the treatment can accomplish. Instagram videos and images of multiple threads and needles coming out of a person’s face or body can be very dramatic. “Threads give the option for instant results,” Dr. Shafer says. “Unfortunately, there is a misperception by patients — and I think a purposeful deception by some — that threads are equivalent to surgery.” This is simply not the case. “They are not equivalent to what can be accomplished with surgery, especially not in terms of longevity,” he notes.
So while these second-generation dissolvable threads are considered safer and more effective than their predecessors, there is only so much a thread lift can do on any part of the body.
What to Expect from a Butt Thread Lift
Regardless of where on the body threads are used, the details and steps of the procedure are the same. Before the threads (different lengths, sizes, and thicknesses are available based on the treatment area and desired results) are inserted using either needles or cannulas, the area is marked, paying close attention to naturally occurring fat regions.
Next, anesthesia is injected and applied topically to the skin’s surface to make the procedure as comfortable as possible. Then, the threads are inserted under the skin (the thread must pass through the fat that lives between the skin and muscle) and pulled from the insertion point through to the ending point — the threads will act as a scaffolding of sorts.
As with any procedure, the skill of the provider is paramount. To avoid complications, it is important that the threads are not placed too superficially or too deep. Initial results take a few weeks to notice, and the full effect is visible after a few months.
After the first four to six months, the threads will begin to resorb (no need to worry, it’s completely safe). As they break down, collagen forms to add volume that lasts upwards of two years. If you’re not happy with your new booty, the threads can be surgically removed before they dissolve.
Threads vs. Other Butt-Enhancing Procedures
Ever since the rear end became a point of significant focus, women across the globe are taking to butt-enhancing procedures and treatments to increase the size and shape of their back side. Brazilian butt lifts, buttock implants, butt fillers, and butt thread lifts all add volume, but each works differently. Depending on your anatomy and aesthetic goals, some are better options than others. Here’s how all of the popular options stack up:
BRAZILIAN BUTT LIFT (BBL)
Perhaps the most notorious surgery for creating a dramatically shapelier backside with more projection, BBLs make use of your own fat. “That’s one of the biggest upsides to the procedure — besides more projection — is the removal of unwanted fat via liposuction,” says Finny George, MD, a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New York. After harvesting the fat from the stomach (or elsewhere), it is purified and spun down (so that only pure fat remains) and then re-injected into the butt. It should be noted that not everyone who wants the procedure is a contender for it. “The ideal candidate is healthy, does not have any clotting or bleeding disorders, has a BMI between 22 and 35, can avoid sitting on their buttocks for two weeks, and has a lack of buttock projection or desires more projection,” Dr. George says.
Frequently Asked Questions
A butt thread lift is a non-surgical procedure that uses dissolvable threads inserted under the skin to lift and contour the buttocks. These threads act as a scaffold and stimulate collagen production over time, resulting in a rounder, shapelier, and more lifted backside. The threads gradually dissolve over several months, with collagen formation providing longer-lasting volume.
Modern threads are made from absorbable materials like polydioxanone (PDO) and poly-L-lactic acid, which are FDA-approved and safer than older permanent barbed sutures. They are inserted using cannulas, reducing complications such as visible bunching or breakage. These advancements make current thread lifts more reliable and effective compared to early 2000s versions.
No, butt thread lifts are not equivalent to surgical procedures like Brazilian butt lifts, implants, or fillers in terms of results or longevity. While threads provide an instant lift and collagen stimulation, they offer more subtle improvements and their effects typically last up to two years. Surgery generally achieves more dramatic and longer-lasting buttock augmentation.
The procedure begins with marking the treatment area, followed by applying local anesthesia to ensure comfort. Threads of varying lengths and thicknesses are then inserted under the skin using needles or cannulas, passing through the fat layer to create a supportive scaffold. Initial results appear in a few weeks, with full effects visible after several months as collagen forms.
The threads used in a butt thread lift begin to dissolve after four to six months, but the collagen they stimulate can maintain volume and lift for up to two years. If desired, the threads can be surgically removed before they fully dissolve. However, the longevity of results is generally shorter than that of surgical butt enhancement procedures.
Ideal candidates for a BBL are healthy individuals without clotting or bleeding disorders, with a body mass index (BMI) between 22 and 35. They should have insufficient buttock projection or desire more projection and be able to avoid sitting on their buttocks for two weeks post-procedure. The BBL uses the patient's own fat harvested via liposuction to augment the buttocks.
Butt thread lifts are non-surgical, using dissolvable threads to lift and stimulate collagen for subtle contouring, with results lasting up to two years. Brazilian butt lifts are surgical, involving liposuction to harvest fat which is then injected into the buttocks for more dramatic size and shape enhancement, with longer-lasting results. BBLs also remove unwanted fat from other areas, providing dual benefits.
Modern butt thread lifts using FDA-approved absorbable threads are considered safer than older thread lift methods. However, the procedure requires skilled providers to avoid complications such as improper thread placement. While generally safe, some plastic surgeons question the overall efficacy and safety of butt thread lifts compared to established surgical options.
Yes, if a patient is dissatisfied with the results of a butt thread lift, the threads can be surgically removed before they naturally dissolve. This provides an option to reverse the procedure if necessary, although most threads are designed to safely absorb over time without intervention.
Collagen production is a key benefit of butt thread lifts. As the threads dissolve, they stimulate the skin to produce new collagen, which helps maintain volume and firmness in the treated area. This collagen boost offsets natural age-related collagen decline, contributing to longer-lasting lift and improved skin texture.
